Wednesday, June 10, 2020

AgNor health workers receive boxes of face masks

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 10 (PIA) -- With the continuing threat posed by the coronavirus disease  2019 (COVID-19) in the country, the government also prioritizes every health worker’s safety and protection against the spread of said disease, as they never cease in giving the needed services to the Filipino people. 

As part of the government’s effort, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) led by Secretary Martin Andanar has donated face masks to the health workers of Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital situated in Butuan City.

The 3,500 pieces of surgical masks, 100 N95 masks and 50 face shields were turned over to Dr. Odelio Ferrer, the provincial health officer (PHO) and chief of the said health facility through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.

Dr. Ferrer thanked the PCOO for showing their concern for the health workers and their generosity in donating boxes of face masks to protect their employees.

“We are very thankful to PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar for donating these face masks and face shields for our health workers. We also have procured the same, yet due to limited resources, we still need more to provide for our employees. Through donations from the public and private sectors, we are able to cope and maintain safety and protection of our health workers,” cited Dr. Ferrer.

Dr. Ferrer said that the hospital management makes sure that all its health workers who continue to serve the patients confined in the said health facility are practicing the health protocols to keep them safe and protected all the time.

Meanwhile, the PCOO’s attached agencies such as the Radyo Pilipinas stations in Butuan City and Tandag City,  the Philippine News Agency (PNA), and PIA Caraga have also received the boxes of face masks intended for their respective personnel.

“This is really a big help for us especially that we work in the field to gather news and relevant information. With these boxes of face masks, our personnel here in Butuan and Tandag would somehow be protected while we perform our daily tasks. Thank you so much, Secretary Martin Andanar,” said Ma. Lourdes Pizarro-Apego, station manager of Radyo Pilipinas Butuan.

Per report from the Department of Health(DOH) Caraga, there have been 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in the region. The government continues to warn the public to strictly observe the health protocols and other preventive measures to avert the spread of the deadly virus. (JPG, PIA-Caraga)

DOH to help LGUs expedite COVID-19 lab accreditation process

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, June 10 (PIA) -- With various local government units (LGUs) pushing for the establishment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing laboratories in their respective areas, the Department of Health (DOH) has been providing the necessary assistance to speed up the accreditation process of the said laboratories.

“We have been helping with expediting the licensing process of COVID-19 laboratories that LGUs plan on establishing.  Should they have queries about the process, they can always contact the agency’s regional offices,” said DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire during the Laging Handa Network Briefing with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday, June 9.

The undersecretary said the health department will partake in the preparation of the establishment of the laboratory by providing assessments and identifying the areas that need improvement. Free trainings will also be provided for the laboratory staff and technicians.

“We will be going on-site to coordinate with licensing officers and provide guidance on establishing the laboratory or the locality to hasten the entire process,” she added.

Joining the program is Agusan del Sur Provincial Governor Santiago B. Cane, Jr. who reiterated his request for additional assistance from the DOH. The provincial government is planning on establishing a laboratory as part of its efforts to effectively curb the transmission of the disease.

The number of cases in the province has been rising since the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). The province now has three COVID-19 cases, all of which are foreign cases from the returning residents.

The provincial governor bared that they are hoping to establish the laboratory and have it fully operational before the year ends.

Usec. Vergeire said that they will be scheduling a visit next week for the said matter.

The health official also reminded that the easement of community quarantine regulations does not signify the end of the health crisis.

“We have to continue implementing our health and safety measures even as we transition to the new normal. This is the only way to fully preventing the transmission of the virus,” she affirmed. (DMNR/PIACaraga)

Caraga's COVID-19 cases climb to 14

BUTUAN CITY, June 10 -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga revealed three new positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the region. As of June 9, Caraga region now has 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The twelfth case is a 29-year-old male while the thirteenth case is a 31-year-old male, both from Agusan del Norte and are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who arrived in the Philippines last April 1 and 18, respectively. Upon arrival in the country, these individuals were quarantined in Manila until May 25, 2020; they were also tested via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with negative results. On May 26, they arrived in Cagayan de Oro by Air Asia Flight Z28689 and stayed in the city for a night. The day after, they travelled to Caraga region by bus and directly quarantined in their designated LGU quarantine facility.

The fourteenth case is a 26-year-old female, also an ROF from Agusan del Sur who arrived in the region on May 31, 2020 via land trip from Cagayan de Oro City.

Respective local government units (LGUs) were able to conduct Rapid Antibody-based Testing (RAT) and these turned out positive therefore swabs were taken for RT-PCR confirmatory testing.

All three patients are on strict quarantine facility, currently with no signs and symptoms and are being closely monitored. Further contact tracing and coordination is being carried out by the concerned LGUs and health authorities of regions 10 and 13.

“As a reminder, we strongly urge the public especially when going out from their homes and in public places to properly wear masks. Make sure your face mask covers your mouth and nose. Avoid touching the masks, replace it daily especially when damaged or if it becomes dirty and wash your hands after removing your masks,” said DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. 

Likewise, DOH Caraga received 46 more RT-PCR test results from the Southern Philippines Medical Center sub-national laboratory that tested Negative for COVID-19. The results are from: a) Second follow-up test of the 6th case, b) Four (4) Suspect cases from Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC), Manuel J. Santos Hospital, Butuan Doctors’ Hospital and Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital, c) Two (2) Probable cases from Agusan del Sur, d) Nineteen (19) RAT positive from Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Butuan City, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands, e) Sixteen (16) high-risk health workers from ASTMMC, Caraga Regional Hospital and Agusan del Sur, and f) Four (4) close contacts.

“We are still in transition to the ‘new normal’ and this requires our utmost patience and concerted efforts. Follow the health standards advised by the DOH and your health teams. Let us all work together as we continue to follow the basic health practices,” the health chief concluded. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga) 

DOST deploys specimen collection booths to Caraga hospitals

By Venus L. Garcia

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 10 (PIA) -- To help accelerate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing in the region, five contactless specimen collection booths (SCBs) were deployed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Caraga to the Department of Health (DOH)-operated hospitals.

Two were installed at the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City, while the two others at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and one at the DOH - Center for Health and Development (CHD) Caraga.

The said telephone booth-style swab collection facility has a transparent front window and window-mounted nitrile gloves, good ventilation and caster wheels for easier mobility.

For extra protection of health workers, it also has an air circulation system and infrared temperature sensors that remotely monitors the temperature of the patients.

"The purpose is to ensure the safety and provide a level of protection among the sample collectors or the medical professionals because they are at high risk during the swabbing,” said Engr. Noel Ajoc, chief of the Technical Support Services Division of DOST-Caraga.

The SCBs are jointly funded by the DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), and fabricated by the DOST-PCIEERD’s Startup Grant Awardee Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, Inc. (FAME).

The SCB design is available to fabricators at engineering groups through DOST offices and the DOST-PCIEERD website (www.pcieerd.dost.gov.ph).

DOST-Caraga is planning to add another four SCBs for use in the region.

Meanwhile, the DOST-Caraga will also be distributing reference thermal scanners to local government units to be utilized in calibrating other existing thermal scanners.

“So what we will do is to distribute to them the calibrated thermal scanners for them to compare the readings with non-calibrated or existing ones so they can correct or adjust to ensure accuracy,” said Engr. Ajoc. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Specimen collection booths naideploy na sa Caraga ng DOST

By Venus L. Garcia

LUNGSOD NG SURIGAO, Surigao del Norte, Hunyo 10 (PIA) -- Upang mapabilis at mapabuti pa ang kapasidad para sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, limang contactless specimen collection booths o SCBs ang idineploy ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Caraga sa mga Department of Health (DOH)-operated na mga ospital.

Dalawa nito ay sa Caraga Regional Hospital sa Surigao City, dalawa rin sa Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center sa Tandag, Surigao del Sur; at isa sa DOH-Center for Health and Development (CHD) Caraga.

Ang nasabing telephone booth-style swab collection facility ay may transprent window sa harapan, window-mounted nitrile gloves, ventilation at caster wheels para madaling mailipat.

Para sa karagdagang proteksyon ng health workers, mayroon din itong air circulation system at infrared temperature sensors na nakakapag-monitor remotely ng temperatura ng pasyente.

“Ang purpose nito ay para masiguro ang kaligtasan and magbigay ng proteksiyon sa mga sample collector o medical professional dahil nasa high risk sila habang nagsaswabbing,” sabi ni Engr. Noel Ajoc, chief ng Technical Support Services Division of DOST-Caraga.

Ang nasabing mga SCB ay jointly funded ng DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). Finabricate naman ito ng DOST-PCIEERD’s Startup Grant Awardee Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, Inc. (FAME).

Ang disenyo ng SCB ay maaaring gamitin ng mga fabricator at engineering groups at makakakuha ng kopya nito sa DOST offices o kaya’y i-download sa website ng DOST-PCIEERD (www.pcieerd.dost.gov.ph).

Nakatakda ring magdagdag ang DOST-Caraga ng apat pa na SCB sa rehiyon.

Samantala, karagdagang proyekto rin ng DOST-Caraga ang pamimigay ng reference thermal scanners sa mga local government units kung saan magagamit ito sa pag calibrate ng kanilang existing thermal scanners.

“So ang gagawain natin ay magpapadala tayo ng calibrated thermal scanners at sabay na ilagay sa noo ang kanilang kasalukuyang ginagamit na thermal scanner para malaman kung okay ba yung reading or kung ano dapat yung adjustments,” sabi ni Engr. Ajoc. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Indigay sa gulayan sa kabatan-onan usa sa mga kalihukan sa ika-53 nga Araw ng Agusan del Norte

By J-Ann Mag-aso

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hunyo 10 -- Kinsa may mosunod pag-uma sa umaabot kung ang kabatan-onan karon molihay na niini nga trabaho?

Niini, ang pagtan-aw sa kabatan-onan sa pag-uma nga usa ka highly viable profession maoy usa sa buot itisok sa Sangguniang Kabataan [SK] Provincial Federation sa mga kabatan-onan sa pag-aghat niini sa ilang mga sakop nga moapil sa Indigay sa Gulayan sa Kabatan-onan nga gipasiugdahan sa AGUSAN UP!, kaabag ang Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO) ug sa federation mismo.

Ang laing tumong sa contest nga ilunsad karong Hunyo 16 isip kabahin sa mga kalihukan sa 53rd Araw ng Agusan del Norte mao ang paghatag sa kabatan-onan og produktibong atimanon diha sa pagtanum og pagkaon imbes nga walay buhaton tungod sa mga restrictions paglikay nga mokuyanap ang COVID-19.

Gilantaw nga ang mga City ug Municipal SK federations ang mahimong direktang partisipante ning maong indigay nga sugdan karong Hunyo 16 ug mahuman human sa ikatulong hugna sa paghukom sa mga hurado sa unang semana sa Septyembre.

Ang makakuha sa unang ganti sa contest makadawat og Php30,000, and ikaduha Php20,000 ug ang ikatulo, Php10,000. Ang ubang partisipante makadawat og consolation prize nga Php5,000 pesos matag usa.

Ang maong indigay kabahin sa Plant! Plant! Plant! Project sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa kalambuan sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera.

Ang mosunod mao ang detalye sa contest:

1.   Abli sa mga SK Federations sa 10 ka munisipyo ug usa ka syudad sa Agusan del Norte. Ang mga interesado magpa rehistro lang sa Agusan Up Coordianting Unit sa wala pay Hunyo 15, 2020.

2.     Ang contest subay sa sistema sa urban gardening

3.  Ang Probinsiya ang mohatag sa nagkalain- laing klase nga mga liso sa mga gulay - Pechay,

Eggplant, Okra, String beans, Ampalaya, Patola, Upo, Kalabasa, Kamatis - nga maoy itanum sa maong contest.

4.      Ang mga gulay patuboon sa natural nga paagi ug walay chemical nga gamiton sa pag-atiman niini. Ang probinsiya ang maghatag sa gikinihanglang vermicast.

5.      Adunay pagahimoon nga online briefing sa mga nakarehistro nga partisipante sa wala pa ang Hunyo 17, 2020 kalabot sa maong contest. Naa usab ang Munisipal Agriculturists isip farming consultant sa mga kabatan-onang partisipante.

6.   Mao kini ang pamaagi sa paghukom sa maong gulayan:

a. Garden Site

b. Garden Design

c. Soil Management

d. Pest Management

e. Vegetable Stand

f. Productivity

g. Garden Records Management

7. Tulo ka bulan ang durasyon sa maong contest. Ang unang paghukom mahitabo sa ika duhang semana sa Hulyo, ika duha sa Agusto ug final judging himoon sa unang semana sa Septyembre.

8. Ang dili mosunod sa maong mga guidelines ug mechanics mamahimong diskwalipikado. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)